Detecting device and method for determining type and insertion of flash memory card

ABSTRACT

A detecting device for determining type and insertion of flash memory card is provided, which comprises a flash memory card interface which comprises a plurality of flash memory card slots, a control module detecting signals transmitted from the plurality of flash memory card slots and a bus which comprises a plurality of detecting wires and a plurality of signal wires, wherein one side of each detecting wire is respectively connected to detect pin of each flash memory card slot, and the other side is respectively connected to the control module, one side of each signal wire is connected to all data pins of those flash memory card slots in a predetermined corresponding way, and the other side is connected to the control module. A detecting method for determining type and insertion of flash memory card is provided, which comprises detecting the voltage level transitions of wires connected to pins of a plurality of flash memory card slots, wherein the wires are described above, and determining type of inserted flash memory card by the voltage level transitions of those wires.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a detecting device and method fordetermining insertion and type of flash memory card.

2. Description of the Related Art

Flash memory has DRAM (DRAM, dynamic random access memory) which has acharacteristic of directly changing data by current and ROM (ROM,read-only memory) which has a characteristic of keeping data afterpower-down. In addition, the information of the wireless mobilemultimedia are popularize progressively, many new products, such asdigital camera, PDA (PDA, personal digital assistant), mobile phone andMP3 player, etc., are needed portable memories such as flash memory cardwhich has advantages of small size, big capacity, fast read/write speed,power saving and anti-shock properties, etc. Compare flash memory cardwith other portable storage interface like disk and optical disk, thecapacity of disk is too small, and the size is too big, and it is easyto be damaged. Optical disk is sensitive to vibration and needed morepower. For this reason, flash memory card gradually becomes a mainstreamproduct of portable memory device. However, flash memory cardspecifications are not unified at present, there are five specificationsof flash memory cards: Compact Flash Card (CF Card), Smart Media Card(SM Card), Secure Digital Card (SD Card), Multi Media Card (MMC Card),and Memory Stick Card (MS Card). All kinds of specifications of flashmemory cards are produced by worldwide mainstream manufacturers, andthese mainstream manufacturers have their own organized associationswhich have their own members supporting their manufacturers. Currentlyvarious specifications are well developed and incompatible with eachother. Therefore, a unified specification is not likely in the nearfuture. In respect of reading flash memory card, it is not difficult tosupport a unitary specification of flash memory card technique. However,to satisfy the need of all kinds of specifications of flash memorycards, it is needed to develop a storage device with multiple flashmemory cards interface to integrate and read different flash memorycards with different specifications in sizes and pins.

A detecting device for determining type and insertion of flash memorycard in prior art is illustrated as FIG. 1, which comprises a flashmemory card interface 100, a bus 110 and a control module 120. The flashmemory card interface 100 comprises a plurality of flash memory cardslots. These flash memory card slots can be corresponded to at least twoflash memory cards and to at least two different kinds of flash memorycards. The pins of each flash memory card slot can be divided intodetect pin (as shown in FIG. 1, CD1 is detect pin of a first flashmemory card slot, CD2 is detect pin of a second flash memory card slotand CDn is detect pin of a n-th flash memory card slot) and data pins(as shown in FIG. 1, X11˜X1 n are data pins of a first flash memory cardslot, X21˜X2 n are data pins of a second flash memory card slot andXn1˜Xnn are data pins of a n-th flash memory card slot). The bus 110comprises a plurality of wires which can be divided into a plurality ofdetecting wires and a plurality of signal wires. One side of eachdetecting wire is respectively connected to detect pin of each flashmemory card slot, and the other side is respectively connected to thecontrol module 120. Each data pin of each flash memory card slot isrespectively connected a signal wire to the control module 120. Signalsare transmitted to the control module 120. The control module 120determines which slots are inserted flash memory cards by thesedetecting wires and access the data of the inserted flash memory card.The more are the numbers of flash memory card slots integrated in theflash memory card interface 100, the more are the wires connected to thecontrol module 120, and the cost and the size of the device will beincreased.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A detecting method and a detecting device for determining type andinsertion of flash memory card are provided according to an embodimentof the present invention. The method and device are used for detectingwhether flash memory card is inserted or not and determining type andnumbers of inserted flash memory cards. It is suitable for the devicewith multiple flash memory card slots in one flash memory cardinterface, wherein the wires of data pins of the different flash memorycard slots are connected in a predetermined corresponding way which willbe described in detail according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

A detecting method for determining type and insertion of flash memorycard according to an embodiment of the present invention includesdetecting the voltage level transitions of a plurality conductive wiresconnected to pins of a plurality of flash memory card slots, wherein theconductive wires comprise detecting wires and signal wires, wherein eachdetecting wire is respectively connected to detect pin of each flashmemory card slot and one side of each signal wire is connected to alldata pins of these flash memory card slots in a predeterminedcorresponding way which will be described in detail according to anembodiment of the present invention. Determining type and numbers of atleast one inserted flash memory card by the signals of these detectingwires. If more than one flash memory card are inserted, then at leastone warning message is provided to users, and if only one flash memorycard is inserted, then a corresponding type of flash memory card programis executed.

A detecting device for determining type and insertion of flash memorycard according to an embodiment of the present invention at leastincludes a flash memory card interface which provides a plurality offlash memory card slots, a control module detecting the signalstransmitted from these flash memory card slots and a bus which comprisesa plurality of detecting wires and a plurality of signal wires, whereinone side of each detecting wire is respectively connected to detect pinof each flash memory card slot, and the other side is respectivelyconnected to the control module. One side of each signal wire isconnected to all data pins of these flash memory card slots in apredetermined corresponding way, and the other side is connected to thecontrol module.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The benefits, features, and advantages of the present invention willbecome better understood with regard to the following description, andaccompanying drawings where:

FIG. 1 is a detecting device for determining type and insertion of flashmemory card in prior art;

FIG. 2 is a detecting device for determining type and insertion of flashmemory card according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a detecting device for determining type and insertion of flashmemory card according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a predetermined corresponding mapping table illustrating theconnections of five flash memory card slots according to the presentinvention; and

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of determine execution and step analysisaccording to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is presented to enable one of ordinary skillin the art to make and use the present invention as provided within thecontext of a particular application and its requirements. Variousmodifications to the preferred embodiment will, however, be apparent toone skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may beapplied to other embodiments. Therefore, the present invention is notintended to be limited to the particular embodiments shown and describedherein, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with theprinciples and novel features herein disclosed.

FIG. 2 is a detecting device for determining type and insertion of flashmemory card according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention, which comprises a flash memory card interface 200, a controlmodule 220 and a bus 210. The flash memory card interface 200 includes aplurality of flash memory card slots 210˜20 n. These flash memory cardslots can be corresponded to at least two different kinds of flashmemory cards and to at least two flash memory cards. The pins of eachflash memory card slot can be divided into detect pin (as shown in FIG.2, CD1 is detect pin of a first flash memory card slot 201, CD2 isdetect pin of a second flash memory card slot 202 and CDn is detect pinof a n-th flash memory card slot 20 n) and data pins (as shown in FIG.2, X11˜X1 n are data pins of a first flash memory card slot 201, X21˜X2n are data pins of a second flash memory card slot 202 and Xn1˜Xnn aredata pins of a n-th flash memory card slot 20 n). The control module 220detects the signals transmitted from the pins of those flash memory cardslots. The bus 210 comprises a plurality of wires which can be dividedinto a plurality of detecting wires and a plurality of signal wires.Wherein one side of each detecting wire is respectively connected todetect pin of each flash memory card slot, and the other side isrespectively connected to the control module 220. One side of eachsignal wire is connected to all data pins of these flash memory cardslots in a predetermined corresponding way, and the other side isconnected to the control module 220. As shown in FIG. 2, the wires ofdata pins of those flash memory card slots can be respectively connectedoutside the flash memory card interface 200 in a predeterminedcorresponding way and become a plurality of single signal wiresconnected to the control module 220. Or as shown in FIG. 3, the wires ofdata pins of those flash memory card slots can be respectively connectedinside the flash memory card interface 300 in a predeterminedcorresponding way and become a plurality of single signal wiresconnected to the control module 320. The former is to extend theplurality of wires of data pins of those flash memory card slots outsidethe flash memory card interface 200 and then respectively connected in apredetermined corresponding way and become a plurality of single signalwires, wherein the flash memory card interface 200 can be compatiblewith the slots and disposal of conductive wires of the slots of the pastflash memory card interface. So that the past flash memory cardinterface can be used to extend the signal wires of the data pins ofeach flash memory card slot outside the past flash memory cardinterface, and then respectively connected the wires in a predeterminedcorresponding way and become a plurality of single signal wires. Thelater is to connect the plurality of wires of data pins of each flashmemory card slot inside the flash memory card interface 300 in apredetermined corresponding way and become a plurality of single signalwires, and then connected to the control module 320 and it can save morecost in this manner. Both of connections have their own advantages, andit can be implemented by one of each connections.

In one embodiment, above described flash memory slots 201˜20 n (and301˜20 n) can be designed as five kinds of flash memory card slotsrespectively corresponded to five kinds of flash memory cards in oneflash memory card interface. Five kinds of flash memory cards includeCompact Flash Card (CF Card), Smart Media Card (SM Card), Secure DigitalCard (SD Card), Multi Media Card (MMC Card), and Memory Stick Card (MSCard). The conductive wires used to transmitted data of these five flashmemory cards are respectively connected in a predetermined correspondingway for reducing size and saving more cost, wherein the predeterminedcorresponding way is illustrated in FIG. 4 which is a predeterminedcorresponding mapping table illustrating the connections of five flashmemory card slots according to the present invention. For example, asshown in FIG. 4, the part of mark 3 is presented the connection of pin 3of the flash memory card interface. It presents that the wires of pinSDD1 of SD/MMC Card, pin CFD2 of CF Card and pin SMD4 of SM Card areconnected together.

The connected conductive wires as described above are the wires of datapins of each flash memory card slot. The detecting wires of these flashmemory card slots are not connected with any other conductive wires anddirectly connected to the control module. If the detecting wires areconnected to other data pin wires, when a first flash memory card arebeing accessing the data, the data will be transmitted throughcollectively connected wires. If a second flash memory card is inserted,then the signal of detecting wires of the second flash memory card slotis transmitted to the control module. That is, the collectivelyconnected conductive wires are also used by the second flash memory cardslot, and it is easy to result in disorder of the transmitted data. Thedetecting wires are designed to directly connect to the control module.The control module detects the voltage level transitions of the wires ofthese flash memory card slots, and compares the database ofcorresponding transitions of pins of each flash memory card (as shown inFIG. 4), then determines the insertion, type and numbers of flash memorycards, and then access the data.

Above described control module 220 and 320 detects the signalstransmitted from the plurality of flash memory card slots and determinestype of inserted flash memory card by the voltage level transitions ofthe signals. The predetermined corresponding mapping table of detectingand determining five kinds of flash memory cards is listed below:

-   -   Determining CF Card inserted by pin CFCD0_ and pin CFCD1_ both        are transited to low;    -   Determining SM Card inserted by pin SMCD_ is transited to low;    -   Determining SD Card inserted by pin SDD3_CD is transited to high        or by pin SDCD is transited to low;    -   Determining MMC Card inserted by pin SDCD is transited to low;        and    -   Determining MS Card inserted by pin MSINS is transited to low.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of determine execution and step analysisaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.Operations begin at a first block 31 to detecting the voltage leveltransitions of the signals transmitted from pins of a plurality of flashmemory card slots. At the next block 32 to determine insertion, type andnumbers of flash memory cards by the voltage level transitions of thesignals. At the next block 33 to determine whether more than one kind offlash memory card are inserted. If it is, then jump to the block 34, ifit is not, then jump to the block 35. At the block 34 to provide atleast a warning message to users for choosing one flash memory card touse. At the block 35 to execute the corresponding flash memory cardprogram to access the data of the flash memory card.

Consequently, a detecting method for determining type and insertion offlash memory card is provided, more particularly suitable for the devicewith multiple flash memory card slots in one flash memory cardinterface. The control module detects the voltage level transitions ofwires connected to pins of a plurality of flash memory card slots andcompares the database of corresponding transitions of pins of each flashmemory card, then determines the insertion, type and numbers of flashmemory cards, and then access the data. The detecting method furthercomprises the functions of warning users. If more than one kind of flashmemory card are inserted in one time, then at least a warning message isshowed to users to tell users to choose one flash memory card to use andto remove other disused flash memory card. If at least two flash memorycards are inserted, then at least a warning message is showed. If onlyone flash memory card is inserted, then starting to execute thecorresponding flash memory card program.

Finally, those skilled in the art should appreciate that they canreadily use the disclosed conception and specific embodiments as a basisfor designing or modifying other structures for carrying out the samepurposes of the present invention without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

1. A detecting method for determining type and insertion of flash memorycard, comprising: detecting the voltage level transitions of wiresconnected to pins of a plurality of flash memory card slots, wherein thewires are divided into detecting wires and signal wires, and one side ofeach detecting wire is respectively connected to detect pin of eachflash memory card slot, and the other side is respectively connected toa control module, one side of each signal wire is connected to all datapins of those flash memory card slots in a predetermined correspondingway, and the other side is connected to the control module; anddetermining insertion, type and numbers of at least one flash memorycard by the voltage level transitions of those wires.
 2. The detectingmethod of claim 1, further comprising: comparing the database ofcorresponding transitions of pins of each flash memory card, determininginsertion, type and numbers of flash memory cards, and accessing data.3. The detecting method of claim 1, further comprising: showing at leasta warning message when more than one kind of flash memory card areinserted; and executing the corresponding flash memory card program whenonly one kind of flash memory card is inserted.
 4. The detecting methodof claim 1, further comprising: executing the corresponding flash memorycard program when only one inserted flash memory card is detected; andshowing at least a warning message when at least two inserted flashmemory cards are inserted.
 5. The detecting method of claim 1, whereinthose flash memory card slots are combinations of the following fiveflash memory cards: Compact Flash Card (CF Card), Smart Media Card (SMCard), Secure Digital Card (SD Card), Multi Media Card (MMC Card) andMemory Stick Card (MS Card).
 6. The detecting method of claim 1, whereindetermining the inserted flash memory card is Compact Flash Card (CFCard) when pin CFCD0_ and pin CFCD1_ both are transited to low.
 7. Thedetecting method of claim 1, wherein determining the inserted flashmemory card is Smart Media Card (SM Card) when pin SMCD_ is transited tolow.
 8. The detecting method of claim 1, wherein determining theinserted flash memory card is Secure Digital Card (SD Card) when pinSDD3_CD is transited to high.
 9. The detecting method of claim 1,wherein determining the inserted flash memory card is Secure DigitalCard (SD Card) when pin SDCD is transited to low.
 10. The detectingmethod of claim 1, wherein determining the inserted flash memory card isMulti Media Card (MMC Card) when pin SDCD is transited to low.
 11. Thedetecting method of claim 1, wherein determining the inserted flashmemory card is Memory Stick Card (MS Card) when pin MSINS is transitedto low.
 12. A detecting device for determining type and insertion offlash memory card, comprising: a flash memory card interface whichcomprises a plurality of flash memory card slots; a control moduledetecting at least one signal transmitted from the plurality of flashmemory card slots; and a bus which comprises a plurality of detectingwires and a plurality of signal wires, wherein one side of eachdetecting wire is respectively connected to detect pin of each flashmemory card slot, and the other side is respectively connected to thecontrol module, one side of each signal wire is connected to all datapins of those flash memory card slots in a predetermined correspondingway, and the other side is connected to the control module.
 13. Thedetecting device of claim 12, wherein the wires of data pins of thoseflash memory card slots can be respectively connected inside the flashmemory card interface in the predetermined corresponding way and becomea plurality of single signal wires connected to the control module. 14.The detecting device of claim 12, wherein the wires of data pins ofthose flash memory card slots can be respectively connected outside theflash memory card interface in the predetermined corresponding way andbecome a plurality of single signal wires connected to the controlmodule.
 15. The detecting device of claim 12, wherein the plurality offlash memory card slots are corresponded to at least two different kindsof flash memory cards.
 16. The detecting device of claim 12, wherein theplurality of flash memory card slots are corresponded to at least twoflash memory cards.
 17. The detecting device of claim 12, when detectingat least two different kinds of flash memory cards inserted in thoseflash memory card slots, then at least a warning message is showed tousers.
 18. The detecting device of claim 12, when detecting at least twoflash memory cards inserted in those flash memory card slots, then atleast a warning message is showed to users.
 19. The detecting device ofclaim 12, when detecting only one flash memory card inserted in thoseflash memory card slots, then executing the corresponding flash memorycard program.
 20. The detecting device of claim 12, wherein the signalwires are connected to pins of each flash memory card slot for accessingdata and address.
 21. The detecting device of claim 12, wherein thecontrol module having the functions of accessing data of flash memorycard.
 22. The detecting device of claim 12, wherein the control modulehaving the functions of detecting type and numbers of inserted flashmemory card.
 23. The detecting device of claim 12, wherein those flashmemory card slots are combinations of the following five flash memorycards: Compact Flash Card (CF Card), Smart Media Card (SM Card), SecureDigital Card (SD Card), Multi Media Card (MMC Card) and Memory StickCard (MS Card).
 24. The detecting device of claim 12, whereindetermining the inserted flash memory card is Compact Flash Card (CFCard) when pin CFCD0_ and pin CFCD1_ both are transited to low.
 25. Thedetecting device of claim 12, wherein determining the inserted flashmemory card is Smart Media Card (SM Card) when pin SMCD_ is transited tolow.
 26. The detecting device of claim 12, wherein determining theinserted flash memory card is Secure Digital Card (SD Card) when pinSDD3_CD is transited to high.
 27. The detecting device of claim 12,wherein determining the inserted flash memory card is Secure DigitalCard (SD Card) when pin SDCD is transited to low.
 28. The detectingdevice of claim 12, wherein determining the inserted flash memory cardis Multi Media Card (MMC Card) when pin SDCD is transited to low. 29.The detecting device of claim 12, wherein determining the inserted flashmemory card is Memory Stick Card (MS Card) when pin MSINS is transitedto low.